Amongst Thieves

CHAPTER TWELEVE- Scars

'Word is you've learn to speak since you got back from the slums, and apparently you've used that newfound talent to convince another teams leader to give you their flag. You do like being the centre of attention, don't you?' Lex said, smiling as she and Torren joined him for the morning meal.

'More than him at least,' Callen replied, nodding towards Ape as another cry rung out in his honour. It had only been a day since the games but other rounds were already joining the shouts. 'Besides, I was talking to you two well before the last test.'

'Ture, but Torren basically had to undress you first. This is different.'

'Worth it,' Torren added with a wink. 'What Lex means is that you seem more like an actual person, more like the rest of us. Less hollow. It's a good look for you.'

Callen gave a slight smile in return, watching Ape glare at him from across the room. After the games the day before the man had spent all his free time in muttered conversations with whoever would bare him and Callen could only assume it was about him. Whatever the reason he had little choice but to wait and see what came of it.

He turned back to Torren and Alexis, 'I suppose you're right but who knows what will happen once you two leave. You have less than a season left after all.'

'You could always convince them to let you skip a couple rounds? You are probably already better than most when they get out of here. Or you could just get yourself kicked out?'

'I meant what will you do without me,' Callen replied with a laugh. 'I suppose you will go get married and become thieves together or something like that. Very romantic.'

Lex gave a slight smile as Torren laughed awkwardly. He was about to respond when Ape thumped a heavy fist onto the table across the room, a wicked smile on his face as he glared at Callen.

'Quite down ya great brute!' Lex called angrily, followed by a chorus of laughter.

'Keep out of this wench,' Ape growled back, 'I need to have a talk with your boyfriend there.'

Torren's hand balled into a fist under the table as Callen stood to face the older man again.

'What'd you want now? You already gave me your flag.' Callen said smugly. He felt Torren relax slightly besides him.

Ape slapped the man next to him on the back, receiving an angry look in return. 'My good friend here tells me that some rat's like to stick together in that gutter of yours. Groups of three or four he says, just like those scars on your skinny little arm. It got me wondering, why would you scratch your rat friends into your flesh and where could they be now?'

As always a coldness swept over him, his throat tightening at the mention of his friends. Ape smiled wider as Callen remained silent, raising his voice to be heard through the whole mess hall.

'At first I thought that scum put money together to get you in here, but that's not right is it? No, they're all dead, aren't they? Every one of them! I bet you did it too, killed them in their sleep and took everything they had.'

Callen felt his own hands curl slowly into fists, anger flooding his system.

Lex gripped his shoulder roughly, hissing into his ear, 'He wants you to start a brawl, he wants to get you kicked out. Don't be stupid.'

Callen took a long breath.

She was right of course but Ape knew he had hit a nerve and wouldn't stop unless Callen did something about it. He walked slowly towards the man as the remaining students huddled around the two. Somehow Lex and Torren managed to stay besides him.